Conductor cleaner and carrier.



No. 683,255) Patented on. I, I901. A. H. STEWART. CONDUCTOR CLEANER AND cumin.

iA ncmon filed .m 3, 1901.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modal.)

No. 683,5!5. Ptehted Oct. I, 19m. A. H.. STEWART. CONDUCTOR CLEANEB AND CARRIER.

(Application filed July 8, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES AUSTIN HARMON STEWART,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

CONDUCTOR CLEANER AND CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,515, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed July 3, 1901.

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN HARMON STEW- ART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conductor Gleaners and Carriers; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact descrip-' tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an aerial conductor cleaner and carrier, and it is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts presently to be described, and defined in the claims.

The object of the invention is the provision of a device for removing twine, rags, and other material from overhead conductors and also to provide a device for carrying a conductor from one support to another.

The operation and usefulness of telegraph and telephone wires which are carried by poles are, as is known, seriously interfered with, besides made more or less unsightly and objectionable from the fact that kitestrings, rags, and other devices become attached thereto between the wire-supporting poles. So far as I am aware no device has heretofore been suggested for removing such material, my invention being designed particularly for that purpose.

Generally speaking, the invention comprehends a carrier and means carried thereby for either cutting or otherwise destroying the material hanging on the wire or that portion of the material which constitutes the fastening.

The invention also comprehends a motor for driving the carriage.

The invention also comprehends a motorpropelled carriage which will be susceptible of use as a conductor-carrier-that is to say, a carrier carrying a conductor or a cord from one post to another-thus avoiding the necessity of the lineman taking the wire along the ground tothe adjacent post and thence to the crosstrees.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a form of apparatus which is emio nently satisfactory 5 but it is to be understood that the details of construction and the spe- $erial No. 661974. (No model.)

cial arrangement of the various parts can be varied in many particulars without departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a section of a telegraph or telephone line, showing the apparatus on one of the conductors thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the carrier. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a top plan showing in dotted lines parts adjusted to dilferent positions. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the forward trolley and its carrying-bracket. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the torch-carrying arm and its connection.

In the drawings a suitable frame is shown consisting conveniently of four uprights A A A A. These uprights are connected at their upper ends by a rectangular frame B, constructed conveniently of different strips or bars. The frame projects transversely beyond the uprights A and A. The uprights A and A are connected intermediate their ends by bar a, while the outer uprights are connected by asimilar bar a. Passing transversely through the lower ends of the uprights are four elongated rods B, their ends projecting beyond the uprights and carrying a side plate B. On these bars are sleeved suitable spacing-tubes b, the same, together with the side plate, being rigidly connected by nuts 12. A side plate 13 is also secured by the bolts to the outer uprights.

Fixed to a transverse shaft 0, journaled in the side bars of the frame B, is a large trolley-wheel 0', having a grooved periphery. This wheel is located beyond or at the sides of the uprights, so that the same may be placed on a wire conductor without interference or the necessity of removing part of the frame. In practice I have found it convenient to positively drive the wheel 0' by a suitable motor and have found that a spring-motor is satisfactory. I have shown such a motor in general outlines, the same consisting largely of the clock-train-thatis, it consists of a spring-drum D, mounted on a shaft (1 and journaled in the side plates of the carrying-frame and located below the trolley-wheel. The spring may be held under tension by a suitable pawl in well-known manner and communicates motion to the drum and through it to the train of gear-wheels, (represented at D, D", and D,) the latter being mounted on the shaft of the trolley-wheel.

As before stated, the construction of the carrying-frame is such that the trolley-wheel can be placed on the wire; but in practice it is convenient to provide suitable guides to prevent the wheels from jumping or escaping from the wire. With this in view I provide suitable clips in the form of substantially U- shaped brackets E, secured to the transverse bolts at opposite ends of the carrying-frame. After the wire has been adjusted to the trolley and inserted in the clips a suitable lock in g-bolt e is passed through the U -shaped portion directly below the wire and conveniently slightly below the plane of the bottom of the trolley.

Projecting from the side of the carrierframe and conveniently secured thereto by the upper transverse bolts is a forwardly-extending arm F. This arm adjacent the frame is bent inwardly in line with the trolley-Wheel and has on its other end a downturned flanged portion t, to which is secured an extension F, consistingof a fiat plate having a downturned end i, coupled with the downturned end of the arm by a set-bolt f, so that the same may be turned at an angle. Secured to the arm is an upright bracket G, of substantially U-shaped formation, one branch only being connected to the arm. In this bracket is secured a guide-wheel H and below the wheel is a pin or bolt h, spanning the space between the arms of the bracket and serving to retain the conductor-wire in the grooved periphery of the wheel H.

J represents a stay-brace secured to the frame B and terminating at a point adjacent the bracket G.

K designates a guide consisting of a metal bar secured on the top of the bracket G and to which the forward end of the brace J is secured. The ends of this guide are carried forward at an incline. Adjustably secured on the extension F is a knife or cutter-bar L, the connection conveniently being made by a bolt and thumb-nut Z, so that the position of the bar may be varied. On the outer ends of the cutter-bar are the torch-cups M, the same being of any desired formation and designed to receive oil or other inflammable fluids and also wicking or other absorbent material, such as asbestos. 4

By the construction I have described it will be seen that the torch and cutter-bar are located well in advance of the driving mechanism and on the plane below the trolleys, so that the obstruction on the wire will be met first by the cutter or torch and severed or destroyed. I have found in some cases that it is desirable to have a counterweight secured to the rear end of the machine to'cause the same to move evenly along the wire and balance the machine, although this ployed.

is not a necessary expedient. Any obvious arrangement of counterweight can be cm- In operation the lineman or operator places the apparatus on the conductor or wire,winds up the spring of the driving mechanism, and if the obstruction is in the nature of rags or cord loosely hanging from the wire or other adjacent wires he positions the cutting-bar to bring the torches in a position where the flame thereof will come in contact with the material. He then attaches a cord to the rear end of the carriage and allows the motor to drive the carriage forward. After the obstruction has been removed the carriage is drawn back by a cord, and in this connection any suitable reel can be employed by the operator. The guide-arms, as will be apparent, serve to gather in obstructing material from adjacent wires, conducting the same to points within the burning zone of the torches. It may be found necessary to adjust the torches vertically, and to permit this a swivel connection at the end of the arm is provided.

When the apparatus is to be used for carrying a conductor from one support to another, it is only necessary to attach the Wire to the rear end of the carriage, winding the spring sufficiently to carry the carriage over its carrying-wire.

I have found in practice that the apparatus above described is very successful, and, further, that by drawing the carriage back the spring of the driving mechanism will be rewound, ready for subsequent use.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new, and desired to be covered by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, of a knife-bar carried by the carriage.

2. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, of an adjustable knife-bar carried by the carriage. Y

3. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, of a vertically-adjustable knife-bar carried by the carriage.

4. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, of a horizontal knife-bar, carried by the carriage.

5. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on a conductor of a torch, carried by the carriage.

6. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on a suspended conductor, of an adjustable torch carried by the carriage.

7. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on a suspended conductor of a knife-bar and a torch carried by the carriage.

8. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on a suspended conductor, of an adjustable knife-bar and a torch carried by the carriage.

9. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, having means for suspending the same on a suitable conductor, of a torch carried by the carriage, and means for adjusting the torch transversely toward and from the carriage.

10. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, in combination with a carriage, a trolley therein, a torch carried by the carriage and guide-arms projecting trans versely from the carriage.

11. In a device for removing material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, of a torch carried thereby, and a motor for driving the carriage.

12. In a device for removing'material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, of a cutting device carried thereby, and a motor for driving the carriage.

13. In a device for removing material from overhead Wires, the combination with a carriage adapted to travel on and be supported by a conductor and means carried by the carriage for removing the material.

14. In a device for removing cord and other material from overhead conductors, the combination with a carriage, means for propelling the carriage and a trolley for supporting the carriage on the conductor, of means carried by the carriage for removing the cord or other material from the conductor, substantially as described.

15. In a device for removing cord and other obstructions from suspended conductors, the combination with a motor-driven carriage, of a torch carried by the carriage, and means for adjusting the torch, to position the same relative to the obstruction on the conductor.

16. The combination with a motor-driven carriage, and means for supporting and carrying the same on a suspended conductor, of an arm projecting forward from the carriage, and a torch supported on the forward end of the arm, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a motor-driven carriage, having means for supporting and carrying the same on an overhead conductor, means for retaining said carrying means on the conductor, an arm projecting forward from the carriage, a guide-wheel on the arm, and a device on the arm for removing obstructions on the conductor.

18. The combination with a frame, a trolley mounted therein, an arm extending from the frame, a guide-wheel on the arm, means for securing the trolley and guide on a conductor, and means carried by the frame for removing obstructions on a conductor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUSTIN HARMON STEWART.

Witnesses:

Y R. G. CROWLEY,

J. G. COMPTON. 

